Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a machine



Oct. 25, 1966 N ET AL 3,281,855

APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 19645 Sheets-Sheet 1 Se i v6 INVENTORS BY Lou/s Gomez/vs Oct. 25, 1966 T. A.RICHMAN ET AL 3,281,855

APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 19645 Sheets-Sheet 2 BOWLING ALLEY LANE FINISH Fumes F sa TIMC/ D FRAME-5517R! TIME/DAY I Tic j. Fig.5.

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APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A MACHINE Filed Feb. 27, 19645 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS 77/600095 A. 4 /09 24 By laws 60;:25596- I HW y ?n m United States Patent 3,281,855 APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THEOPERATION OF A MACHINE Theodore A. Richman, Parsippany, and LouisGoldberg, Glen Rock, N.J., assignors to Theodore A. Richman, LouisGoldberg, and Richard E. Cherin, a partnership, Montclair, NJ.

Filed Feb. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 347,892 Claims. (Cl. 346-33) Thisinvention relates to a system for monitoring the operation of a machineand more in particular to a system for monitoring the operation of anautomatic bowling pin-setting machine.

The great increase of interest in bowling in recent years has lead tothe general use of automatic bowling pin-setting machines and to theerection of bowling alleys having a great number of lanes each equippedwith a pinsetting machine. In addition the popularity of bowling haslead to around-the-clock operation of a great number of the larger typeof bowling alleys. Consequently, the bowling business which at one timecomprised alleys having several manually operated lanes are now commonlylarge establishments containing upwards to 100 lanes. As the size of theoperation of a given bowling alley increases, it becomes more importantto have data related to all aspects of the business, especially datarelated to the operation of the pin-setting machines since the cycles ofoperation of the pin-setting machine has a direct bearing upon therental to be paid by the operator of the bowling alley to the owner ofthe machines when they are rented, the maintenance of the machines, themaintenance of the bowling pins used in the machines, and all aspects ofaccounting and control for the proper operation of the business.

The need of data for accounting purposes is one of the most importantfactors in the successful operation of a bowling alley, especially oneof the larger type. The basic revenue of the operation is that resultingfrom the charge per game that is paid by each of the players.Consequently the proper billing of the player is dependent upon theaccurate determination of the number of games played by him. Thisdetermination is made more complicated by the fact that the game isoften played by groups or teams of players. Thus at the conclusion of aseries of games by a group of players, the clerk must rapidly determinethe number of games played by each player, and draw up bills based uponthis information. Purely manual techniques in keeping track of thenumber of games played are obviously dependent upon the care andaccuracy of the clerk and therefore can result in errors which deny thebusiness revenue which it would otherwise receive. Errors in tallyingthe number of games played can lead to undesirable disputes andarguments between the clerk and the player. In addition, a general lackof accounting and control procedures can be a lure for an unscrupulousemployee to attempt to cheat the employer. Consequently attempts tomaintain records of the number of games played by purely manualtechniques has been generally unsuccessful because of the human elementinvolved and because of the time consumption resulting from manualtechniques.

In connection with the rental charged to the operator for use of abowling machine, devices have been provided for counting the number offrames or lines of bowling which have been played on a given machine.Such devices conventionally record the cycles of operation on a digitalcounter device. Efforts to derive data from such counters for use inmonitoring the business operation or in determining charges to be madeto the players have not been successful because the information from thecounters is often unreliable and in any event is not readily 3,281,855Patented Oct. 25, 1966 available to the clerk in determining the chargeto be made. Such information has often been made unreliable either bythe inability of the sensing unit at the machine to count the cycles ofoperation of the machine accurately or by unscrupulous persons tamperingwith the sensing device in order to interfere with the sensing functionfor dishonest purposes.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide anapparatus for monitoring data related to the number of cycles ofoperation of a machine and the time corresponding thereto. It is anotherobject of the invention to provide an apparatus for monitoring a bowlingpin-setting machine with respect to its number of cycles of operationand the time corresponding thereto.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus forrecording the cycles of operation of a bowling pin-setting machine whichis substantially tamperproof.

It is an additional object of the'invcntion to provide an apparatus forrecording the number of frames through which a bowling pin-settingmachine is operated in conjunction with the time of day correspondingthereto.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system forproducing a printed record of the number of frames through which abowling-pin-setting machine has operated and the time of day at the timeof printing.

In one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention for recording datarelated to the operation of a machine means are provided which areactuated in response to the operation of the machine for counting itscycles of operation. The apparatus further includes means for indicatingthe time of day. In addition the apparatus comprises means for producinga record of the count of the cycles of operation and the time of day.With this arrangement, upon demand, a record of the operation of themachine and related time can be obtained.

In another embodiment of the invention the recording apparatus isadapted to count the cycles of operation and the time of daycorresponding thereto of a bowling pinsetting machine.

In still another embodiment of the invention the apparatus formaintaining the operation of a bowling pinsetting machine includes meansfor connecting the pin setting machine to a source of energy only whenthe connecting means is disposed in a predetermined position. Thisinterlocking arrangement prevents operation of the machines after theconnecting means has been disturbed from its predetermined position bytampering or for other causes.

In an additional embodiment of the invention means are provided forprinting the number of cycles of operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine and the corresponding time of day on a receiving surface inorder to record this data permanently.

In a further embodiment of the invention there is provided a controlconsole having a plurality of units for recording the number of framesof operation and the time of day for each of a plurality of bowlingpin-setting machines.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent in thefollowing specification and claims and in the drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the system of the invention formonitoring data related to the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the interlocking and sensing unit of theinvention which is mounted adjacent to the bowling pin-setting machine;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper portion 'of one ofthe controlling and recording units of the system of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of one ofthe con-trolling and recording units of the system of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a console containing a plurality of thecon-trolling and recording units of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary schematic view of the printed circuitry of theconsole;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the front side of the record card;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the reverse side of the record card.

The means for interlocking and sensing the operation of an automaticbowling pin-setting machine, that is unit 10, includes sealed housing 11which is adapted to be mounted in a predetermined position adjacent to aportion of the pin-setting machine (FIG. 2). Unit is used in conjunctionwith the means for controlling and recording data related to theoperation of the pinsetting machine, that is control unit 12 (FIGS. 3and 4). In accordance with the invention units 10 and 12 are providedfor each pin-setting machine and consequently in a bowling alley havinga number of lanes, there is provided a plurality of combinations ofunits 10 and 12. Automatic bowling pin-setting machine 13 is connectedto a source of electrical energy 14 by switching means or switch 15 ofrelay 16 mounted within housing 11 (FIG. 1). Thus upon closure of switch15 the pin-setting machine is energized. The means mounted withinhousing 11 for connecting machine 13 to source 14 when the connectingmeans is disposed in a predetermined position includesposition-responsive switch or mercury switch 17 which is connected incircuit with relay winding 18 of relay 16. Mercury switch 17 is mountedin the predetermined position by the proper positioning of housing 11 onsupport member 19 of machine 13 (FIG. 2). Bracket 20 of the housing issecured to support 19 of the pin-setting machine by screw 21. With thisarrangement, it can be seen that the mercury switch serves as aninterlocking 'device which can prevent operation of the machine iftampering with housing 11 disturbs the switch from its predeterminedposition in which it is closed.

The means for activating switch 15, that is switch 22, is disposcdinhousing 23 of unit 12 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which is adapted to be located ata distance from unit 10. Thus unit 12 is normally located at the counterarea of the bowling alley when the clerk is stationed for assigninglanes, collecting charges, etc. Handle 24 for operating switch 22extends through an opening in cover 25 of housing 23. Terminals or plugs27-31 extend from bottom 32 of housing 23 (FIG. 4) and are adapted toengage jacks 32-36, respectively (FIG. 6). The jacks are disposed insocket 37 which is mounted at the bottom 37 can be formed in a laminatedboard 41 of insulating material which is adapted to receive printedcircuitry. Thus, for example, track 42 extending along board 41 isconnected to power source 43 and to each of jacks for the varioussockets. As shown in FIG. 1, switch 22 when closed connects power source43 through mercury switch 17 and relay winding 18 to the groundconnection. Power source 43 can be selected to be of reduced voltage ascompared to that of source 14 for the pin-setting machine.

With this arrangement it can be understood that with control unit 12plugged into the console and switch 22 closed by actuation of handle 24to the on or closed position of the switch, relay 16 i activated toclose switch 15 if mercury switch 17 is closed as a result of beingmounted in the predetermined position. Following the closing of relayswitch 15 the initial cycle of operation of the pin-setting machine cantake place.

The switching means mounted within housing 11 of unit 10 which isadapted to be actuated in response to the cycle of operation of thepin-setting machine includes switch 44. This switch can be a sensitivemechanical switch such as a microswitch. Switch 44 is actuated by anelement, shown as element 45 in FIGS. 1 and 2, of the of well 38 withinconsole 39 (FIG. 5). Console 39 con- I tains a well 38 for each of thecontrol units 12 which are to be employed for controlling each of theplurality of pinsetting machines. Thus as shown in FIG. 5, console 39contains twenty control units 12 which are identified by the numerals1-20'. When mounted in the console, covers 25 of control units 12 aresubstantially coplanar with panel 40 of the console which contains anopening in alignment with each of wells 38. In order to preventanyonefrom removing unit 12 from console 39, cover 25 is connected topanel 40 by seal device 26;

Asshown in FIG. 4, plugs 27-31 are polarized with respect to jacks32-36, respectively. Thus several of the plugs and jacks are providedwith different forms, such as circular 'or'rectangular in cross-section,in order to pin-setting machine which moves in response to a cycle ofoperation of the machine such as that corresponding to one frame ofbowling. By way of example element for actuating switch 44 can comprisethe moving deck cam on a machine of the type manufactured by theBrunswick Corporation or the tripper on the backboard of a machinemanufactured by American Machine & Foundry. As shown in FIG. 2, element45 (shown schematically) of machine 13 such as the moving deck cam orthe -trip|per is adapted to actuate switch 44 by engaging it throughface 46 in extension 47 of housing 11 or by brushing or touching face 46when switch 44 is adjacent thereto.

One side of switch 44, as shown in FIG. 1, is connected to power source48. Power source 48 can be a portion of the power supply of machine 13which is at a voltage lower than that of source 14. Line 49extendingfrom switch 44 connects the switch to the printed circuitry ofboard 41 which in turn is connected to jack 32 in console 39corresponding to sensing unit 10. From jack 32 the circuit extendsthrough plug 27 of control unit 12 to the means for producing a recordof the count of the cycles of operation such as frame meter 50. Framemeter 50 can comprise a mechanism similar to that of electric time stampclocks in which members adapted to print digits are periodicallypositioned to indicate the current time by a numerical value. Thus, forexample, frame meter 50 includes digital members capable of printingfour digits. With this arrangement it can be seen that during theoperation of the pin-setting machine for any particular lane in thebowling alley and upon the completion of each frame in the cycle ofoperation of the machine, switch 44 is momentarily closed in response.to the operation of the machine and coninsure that control unit 12 isproperly inserted and connected tothe circuitry extending from the jacksin socket 37. In order to prevent anyone from completing connectionsthrough the jacks in socket 37 by means of jumper wires or the like, theplugs to be used can be of the type known as telephone plugs which areprovided with an internal conductor. Each of these plugs can be employedwith a corresponding telephone-type jack. g

In order to simplify fabrication of the console, sockets nects powersource 48 to frame meter 50. The momentary energizing of the frame meterthereby causes itto advance one digit. The impulse from switch 44 cannotonly be connected to frame meter 50 but can also be applied to indicatorlamp 51 mounted in cover 25 of control unit 12. Thus the lighting of theindicator lamp shows that a given control unit and consequently theframe meter therein is receiving an impulse for each frame of operationof the bowling machine related thereto. In addition the lighting of lamp51 shows that frame meter 50 is in proper working order. In thealternative, light 51 can be connected in circuit with switch 22 inorder to indicate whenever a control unit has its switch in the closedor on position.

In addition to frame information, control unit 12 receives timeinformation from electric clock 52 which is disposed in panel 40 ofconsole 39. In each of the plurality of sockets 37, jack 34 is connectedto track 53 of the printed circuitry in the console which in turn isconnected to clock 52. Through jack 34 and plug 29 the clock isconnected to time meter 54 which can be a mechanism similar as thatdescribed with respect to frame meter 50, that is to say, a mechanismsimilar to that of an electric time stamp device. Thus at predeterminedintervals of time, the time clock actuates the time meter which is themeans for producing a record of the time of day from the clock device.Clock 52 in addition to indicating the time of day can also indicate thedate or the number of the day as defined by its numerical order withinthe year. With this arrangement it can be understood that control unit12 while continually receiving time information, receives frameinformation only when the pin-setting machine controlled thereby is inoperation.

The means within control unit 12 for producing a record of the count ofthe cycles of operation of the counting means includes solenoid 55 whichis adapted to actuate the counting means or frame meter 50 in order toproduce or print a record of the number of frames at the time ofactuation. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 the receiving member or receivingsurface is that of record card 56 having front side 57' and reverse side53. The front side of the card is adapted to receive printed datacorresponding to the start and finish of the Operation of a particularpin-setting machine. Boxes 59-61 receive the starting information oflane number, frame number, and time value, respectively. Boxes 62-64 areadapted to receive printed information concerning the finishing lanenumber, frame number and time value, respectively.

Prior to play at a particular lane such as lane 2, switch 22 is actuatedto the on position and card 56 is inserted into slot 65 in cover 25which is adjacent to indicia 66 of the lane number. -At the start thecard is inserted to its maximum depth. Means responsive to theengagement therewith of the receiving surface or card 56 such as tripper67 disposed within control unit 12 actuates switch 68. The closing ofswitch 68 connects source 43 to solenoids 55 and 71 which actuate therecording or printing elements of frame meter 50 and time meter 54,respectively. Thus in response to the operation of the solenoids thelane number, the starting frame number, and the time and date areprinted in boxes 59, 60 and 61, respectively of the card. The lanenumber is printed by die 70 attached to frame meter 50.

Since at this point, switch 22 has been actuated to the on position, thepin-setting machine is energized provided that monitoring and sensingunit remains undisturbed upon support 19 of the pin-setting machine.Thus if unit 10 has been tampered with in order to disengage switch 44from being operated by element 45 of the machine, unit 10 causes switch17 to open and thereby prevent the pin-setting machine from beingenergized by source 14. Unit 10 similarly as unit 12 is sealed by itshousing construction so that tampering with the internal elements ofunit 10 is prevented.

Upon completion of the game the player returns to the clerk at theconsole. The clerk then selects card 56 which corresponds to the laneupon which the player has been bowling and inserts the card into slot 65of unit 12. Because of the positioning of boxes 62-64 at a point abovethose of boxes 59-61, card 56 is inserted only part way into slot 65. Toassure that the partial insertion of card 56 into slot 65 properlypositions the card for printing in boxes 62-64, a spacer card can beinserted in slot 65 with card 56. When held together with card 56, thespacer card is long enough to reach the tripper when card 56 is insertedonly part way into slot 65. Upon the entry of the card into unit 12,tripper 67 is engaged by the card and actuates switch 68 to the closedposition. In turn solenoids 55 and 71 are energized and actuate framemeter 50 and time meter 54, respectively, to stamp the correspondingdigits on the card. Whenever clock 52 transmits an impulse to time meter54 to change the time indication, it is necessary to prevent theactuation of solenoids 55 and 71 since printing the time reading as thetime meter changes could result in a blurred time indication or none atall. To preclude printing as the time meter reading is changed by theclock, there is provided relay 69 having switch 69a serially connectedbetween source 43 and solenoids 55 and 71. Relay winding 6% is activatedwhenever the clock pulses time meter 54. When the relay is actuated,switch 69a is opened, thereby preventing actuation of solenoids 55 and71 at such a time.

It is to be appreciated that embodiments described herein are merelyintended to be illustrative of the present invention and that variationsmay be made thereon by one skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising a first assembly adapted to be mounted adjacent thepin-setting machine, said first assembly including means for connectingthe pin-setting machine to a source of energy, means for actuating saidconnecting means when said actuating means is electrically energized anddisposed in a predetermined position, and switch means actuated inresponse to the cycle of operation of the pin-setting machine; and asecond assembly adapted to be mounted remotely with respect to thepin-setting machine, said second assembly including means forelectrically energizing said actuating means, means responsive to theactuation of said switch means for counting the cycles of operation ofthe pin-setting machine, clock means, and means for producing a recordof the count of the cycles of operation from said counting means and thetime of day from said clock means, whereby data related to the operationof the pin-setting machine is recorded in terms of the number of cyclesof operation thereof and the time corresponding thereto when saidpin-setting machine is connected to a source of energy by said actuatingmeans being electrically energized and disposed in a predeterminedposition.

2. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a first housing to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, said first housing including meansmounted within said housing for connecting said pin-setting machine to asource of energy, means for actuating said connecting means when saidactuating means is electrically energized and disposed in apredetermined position, and switch means mounted within said housing andactuated in response to the cycle of operation of the pin-settingmachine; and means mounted remotely with respect to said pin-settingmachine for electrically energizing said actuating means, means mountedremotely with respect to said pin-setting machine and responsive to theactuation of said switch means for counting the cycles of operation ofthe pin-setting machine, clock means mounted remotely with respect tosaid pin-setting machine and means mounted remotely with saidpin-setting machine for producing a record of the count of the cycles ofoperation from said counting means and the time of day from said clockmeans, whereby data related to the operation of the pinsetting machineis recorded in terms of the number of cycles of operation thereof andtime when said pin-setting machine is connected to a source of energy bysaid actuating means being electrically energized and disposed in apredetermined position.

3. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, means mounted within said housingfor connecting the pin-setting machine to a source of energy, meansmounted within said housing for actuating said connecting means wheneversaid actuating means is electrically energized and disposed in apredetermined position, switch means mounted within said housing andactuated in response to the cycle of operation of the pin-settingmachine, clock means, structure forming an additional housing, meansmounted within said additional housing for electrically energizing saidactuating means, means mounted in said additional housing fofcountingthe cycles of operation of the pin-setting machine in response to theactuation of said switch means, means mounted within said additionalhousing and connected to said counting means for producing a record ofthe count of the cycles of operation from said counting means,additional means mounted within said additional housing for producing arecord of the time of day from said clock means, and means for actuatingsaid recording means and said additional recording means, whereby datarelated to the oper- 'ation of the pin-setting machine is recorded interms of the number of cycles of operation thereof and time when thepin-setting machine is connected to sources of energy by said actuatingmeans being electrically energized and disposed in a predeterminedposition.

4. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching the pin-setting machine in circuit with a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said 'housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predetermined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming an additionalhousing, fourth switching means mounted within said additional housingand connected to said second switching means for activating said firstswitching means through said second switching means when said secondswitching means is in said predetermined position, means mounted withinsaid additional housing for counting the cycles of operation of thepin-setting machine in response to the actuation of said third switchingmeans, means mounted within said additional housing and connected tosaid counting means for producing a record of the count of the cycles ofoperation from said counting means, additional means 'mounted withinsaid additional housing for producing a record of the time of day fromsaid clock means, and means for actuating said recording means and saidadditional recording means, whereby data related to the operation of thepin-setting machine is recorded in terms of the number of cycles ofoperation thereof and the 'time corresponding thereto when thepin-setting machine is energized by said second switching means disposedin v said predetermined position.

'5. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching the pin-setting machine in circuit with a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predeter- 'mined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming an additionalhousing, fourth switching means mounted within said additional housingand con nected to said second switching means for activating said firstswitching means through said second switching means when said secondswitching means is in said predetermined position, means mounted withinsaid additional housing for counting the cycles of operation of thepin-setting machine in response to the actuation of said third switchingmeans, means mounted within said :additional housing and connected tosaid counting means for producing on a record receiving member a recordof the count of the cycles of operation from said counting means,additional means mounted within said additional housing for producing onsaid record receiving member a record of the time of day from said clockmeans, and means mounted within said additional housing and responsiveto the positioning adjacent thereto of said viewing member for actuatingsaid recording means and said additional recording means, whereby datarelated to the operation of the pin-setting machine is recorded in termsof the number of cycles of operation thereof and the time correspondingthereto when the pin-setting machine is energized by said secondswitching means disposed in said predetermined position.

6. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching the pin-setting machine in circuit with a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predetermined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming an additionalhousing, fourth switching means mounted within said additional housingand connected to said second switching means for activating said firstswitching means through said second switching means when said secondswitching means is in said predetermined position, means mounted withinsaid additional housing for counting the cycles of operation of thepin-setting machine in response to the actuation of said third switchingmeans, means mounted within said additional housing and connected tosaid counting means for printing on a receiving surface a record of thecount of the cycles of operation from said counting means, additionalmeans mounted within said additional housing for printing on a receivingsurface a record of the time of day from said clock means, and meansmounted within said additional housing and responsive to the engagementtherewith of said receiving surface for actuating said recording meansand said additional recording means,

whereby data related to the operation of the pin-setting machine isrecorded in terms of the number of cycles of operation thereof and thetime corresponding thereto when the pin-setting machine is energized bysaid second switching means disposed in said predetermined position.

7. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching said pin-setting machine in circuit with a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predetermined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming an additionalhousing, fourth switching means mounted within said additional housingand connected to said second switching means for activating said firstswitching means through said second switching means when said secondswitching means is in said predetermined position, means mounted withinsaid additional housing for counting the cycles of operation of thepin-setting machine in response to the actuation of said third switchingmeans, means mounted within said additional housing and connected tosaid counting means for printing on a card a record of the count of thecycles of operation from said counting means, additional means mountedwithin said additional housing for printing on a card a record of thetime of day from said clock means, and fifth switching means mountedwithin said housing and responsive to the engagement therewith of saidcard for actuating said recording means and said additional recordingmeans, whereby data related to the operation Of th pin-Setting machineis recorded in terms of the number of cycles of operation thereof andthe time corresponding thereto when the pin-setting machine is energizedby said second switching means disposed in said predetermined position.

8. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising structure forming a housing adapted to be mountedadjacent to the pin-setting machine, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching said pin-setting machine in circuit with a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predetermined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming an additionalhousing, fourth switching means mounted within said additional housingand connected to said second switching means for activating said firstswitching means through said second switching means when said sec-ndswitching means is in said predetermined position, means mounted withinsaid additional housing for counting the cycles of operation of thepin-setting machine in response to the actuation of said third.switching means, means mounted within said additional housing andconnected to said counting means for printing on a card a record of thecount of the cycles of operation from said counting means, additionalmeans mounted within said additional housing and connected to said clockmeans for printing on a card a record of the time of day and indicia ofthe date, and fifth switching means mounted Within said housing andresponsive to the engagement therewith of said card for actuating saidrecording means and said additional recording means, whereby datarelated to the operation of the pin-setting machine is recorded in termsof the number of cycles of operation thereof and the time correspondingthereto when the pin-setting machine is energized by said secondswitching means disposed in said predetermined position.

9. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a plurality of bowlingpin-setting machines comprising a plurality of housings, each housing ofthe plurality being adapted to be mounted adjacent to a different one ofthe plurality of pin-setting machines, means mounted within said housingfor connecting the pin-setting machine adjacent thereto to a source ofenergy whenever said connecting means is disposed in a predeterminedposition, switch means mounted within said housing and actuated inresponse to the cycle of operation of the pin-setting machine, clockmeans, structure forming a control panel, a plurality of additionalhousings disposed adjacent to said control panel, each additionalhousing corresponding and being connected to a different one of saidplurality of housings, means mounted within said additional housing forcounting the cycles of operation of the pin-setting machine adjacent tothe corresponding housing thereof in response to the actuation of saidswitch means thereof, means mounted within said addi tional housing andconnected to said counting means thereof for producing a record of thecount of the cycles of operation from said counting means, additionalmeans mounted within said additional housing for producing a record ofthe time of day from said clock means, and means mounted within saidadditional housing for actuating said recording means thereof and saidadditional recording means thereof, whereby data related to theoperation of each of the plurality of pin-setting machines is recordedin terms of the number of cycles of operation thereof and the timecorresponding thereto when the pinsetting machine is energized by saidconnecting meansdisposed in said predetermined position.

10. Apparatus for monitoring the operation of a bowling pin-settingmachine comprising a plurality of housings, each housing of saidplurality being adapted to be mounted adjacent to a different one of theplurality of pinsetting machines, first means mounted within saidhousing for switching said pin-setting machine in circuit With a sourceof energy, second switching means mounted in said housing and connectedto said first switching means when said second switching means isdisposed in a predetermined position, third switching means mountedwithin said housing and actuated in response to the cycle of operationof the pin-setting machine, clock means, structure forming a controlpanel, a plurality of additional housings disposed adjacent to saidcontrol panel, each additional housing of said plurality correspondingand being connected to a different one of said plurality of housings,fourth switching means mounted within said additional housing andconnected to said second switching means of said corresponding housingfor activating said first switching means thereof through said secondswitching means thereof when said second switching means is in saidpredetermined position, means mounted Within said additional housing forcounting the cycles of operation of a pin-setting machine in response tothe actuation of said third switching means of said correspondinghousing, means mounted within said additional housing and connected tosaid counting means thereof for producing a record of the count of thecycles of operation from said counting means, additional means mountedwithin said additional housing for producing a record of the time of dayfrom said clock means, and means mounted within said additional housingfor actuating said record ing means thereof and said additionalrecording means thereof, whereby data related to the operation of eachof the plurality of pin-setting machines is recorded in terms of thenumber of cycles of operation thereof and the time corresponding theretowhen the pin-setting machine is energized by said second switching meansdisposed in said predetermined position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1940 Naylor etal. 346- X 3/1964 Mentzer et a1 273-54

1. APPARATUS FOR MONITORING THE OPERATION OF A BOWLING PIN-SETTINGMACHINE COMPRISING A FIRST ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED ADJACENT THEPIN-SETTING MACHINE, SAID FIRST ASSEMBLY INCLUDING MEANS FOR CONNECTINGTHE PIN-SETTING MACHINE TO A SOURCE OF ENERGY, MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAIDCONNECTING MEANS WHEN SAID ACTUATING MEANS IS ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED ANDDISPOSED IN A PREDETERMINED POSITION, AND SWITCH MEANS ACTUATED INRESPONSE TO THE CYCLE OF OPERATION OF THE PIN-SETTING MACHINE; AND ASECOND ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED REMOTELY WITH RESPECT TO THEPIN-SETTING MACHINE, SAID SECOND ASSEMBLY INCLUDING MEANS FORELECTRICALLY ENERGIZING SAID ACTUATING MEANS, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO THEACTUATION OF SAID SWITCH MEANS FOR COUNTING THE CYCLES OF OPERATION OFTHE PIN-SETTING MACHINE, CLOCK MEANS, AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING A RECORDOF THE COUNT OF THE CYCLES OF OPERATION FROM SAID COUNTING MEANS AND THETIME OF DAY FROM SAID CLOCK MEANS, WHEREBY DATA RELATED TO THE OPERATIONOF THE PIN-SETTING MACHINE IS ROCORDED IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CYCLESOF OPERATION THEREOF AND THE TIME CORRESPONDING THERETO WHEN SAIDPIN-SETTING MACHINE IS CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF ENERGY BY SAID ACTUATINGMEANS BEING ELECTRICALLY ENERGIZED AND DISPOSED IN A PREDETERMINEDPOSITION.